Marking device



June 29, 1937. H, E, LEASH 2,085,323

MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

June 29, 1937.

H. E. LEAsl-l MARKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j?. I l l:-

N R 5W. r 6 L #0@ Patented June 29, 1937 rar FFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to devices for marking various forms of wood stock, such as lumber, or for marking completed or partially fabricated wood forms, such as crates or boxes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the above character which will produce a good impression irrespective of surface irregularities or variations in the thickness of the lumber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having marking dies which can be readily replaced cr exchanged, and which can be adjusted to secure a desired alignment with a cooperating conveyor.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in crosssection, illustrating a device incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

'Ihe device of the present invention forms in effect a composite roller, carrying one or more marking dies, and adapted to be mounted upon a rotating shaft. The roller is formed in such a manner that a certain amount of yieldable movement or give is aorded between the marking die and the shaft, to secure a proper pressure upon the lumber being marked, irrespective of variations in the thickness of the lumber.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a shaft I0, which in a typical installation extends above a lumber conveyor II. Fixed to the shaft IU, there is a hub I2, which in turn is surrounded by the ring I3. Longitudinal displacement of the ring I3 with respect to hub I2, is prevented by suitable means, such as the end plates I4 and I5. End plate Ill is suitably secured to the ring I 3, as by means of screws I1, and has its inner annular portion overlapping the annular end face i8 of the hub I2. End plate l5 is likewise secured to ring I3, as by means of screws I9, and overlaps the end face 2| of the hub.

Yieldable means is provided, which acts between the hub and the ring I3, to normally retain the ring with its axis concentric to the detail, taken along axis of shaft I D. As representative of suitable means of this character, a plurality of compression springs 22 are shown. These compression springs extend radially with respect to the axis of the shaft, and are arranged in pairs. Each pair of springs can be accommodated within a slot 23, provided in the hub I2. 'I'he outer ends of the springs are shown seated within sockets 24, which are provided for this purpose in the inner periphery of the ring I3.

While the springs 22 are normally under a certain amount of compression, it is evident that a certain amount of give or resiliency is afforded v between the ring and the hub I2, whereby when force is applied to the ring in a direction laterally to the shaft, the axis of the ring is shifted to a position eccentric to the axis of the shaft, by an amount depending upon the degree of force applied. In addition to such yieldable means, it is desirable to provide means which will positively transmit torque between the hub and the ring I2, in one direction. For this purpose a plurality of lugs 21 are shown, which extend substantially radially within the slots 23. The outer ends of these lugs are seated within the ring I3, and are iixed thereto by suitable means, such as screws 28. It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. l, that one face 29 of each lug 21, forms a iiat shoulder, adapted to cooperate with the adjacent side face 3|, of the corresponding slot 23. Thus with the arrangement of parts illustrated in this ligure, turning movement of the hub in one direction is positively transmitted to the outer ring I3.

In order. to normally maintain lugs 21 in driving engagement with the hub, supplemental resilient elements are provided tending to urge surfaces 29 and 3l into engagement. These supplemental elements can conveniently consist of compression springs 32, there being one such spring for each lug 29. One end of each of these compression springs is shown seated upon its associated lug 21, while the other end is shown seated within a socket 33, provided in the hub I2. It will be noted that these springs extend Vsubstantially tangentially with respect to the hub, or at substantially right angles with respect to the lugs 21,

Various expedients can be utilized for detachably mounting marking dies 34 upon the outer periphery of the ring I3. However in this connection it is desirable that the marking dies correspond in form to segments of a cylinder, and of such dimensions that two or more of such dies can be releasably clamped to the ring I3. The convenient form of clamping means illustrated makes use of bevelled edges 3d, one of which is adapted to engage a complimentary bevelled edge on the end plate i5. The other bevelled edge of each 5 die is adapted to be engaged by clamping blocks 38. These blocks 38 are accommodated within slots 39, formed in the ring i3, and have threaded engagement with the rotatable screws li. Screws Si are in turn rotatably carried by the end plate M, whereby they can be engaged by a suitable turning tool for retracting or advancing the blocks 38.

For certain types of operation it is desirable to provide means for adjusting the dies longitudinally with respect to the shaft it. For this purpose the hub i2 is shown provided with a threaded extension d2, which is engaged by an internally threaded nut 133. Nut d3 also engages a threaded collar d, which is secured to the shaft i0. The threads on extension i2 and collar i4 are in opposite directions, that is, one is righthand and the other is left-hand. Therefore upon manually turning the nut the hub l2, together with ring i3, is adjusted longitudinally with respect to the shaft.

The conveyor il may vary in different installations. ln the typical instance illustrated, it consists of an endless chain fit, carrying lumber engaging dogs l. Dogs itl' operate above the platform or conveying surface 18.

While my device is in use, shaft i@ is driven synchronously with respect to movement of the conveyor il, and so that the marking surfaces of the dies move at a velocity equal to the rate of movement of the conveyor. Assuming now that a piece of lumber is moved by the conveyor to a marking position, as the end of the wood stock moves beneath the ring i3, its upper surface is engaged by a marking die, and the ring i3 is sprung upwardly a certain amount, against the yielding action of compression springs 22. Thus the surface of the die is rmly pressed into engagement with the wood stock, to secure a clean cut impression.

:i5 Due to the yieldable nature ofl the device as described above, it is evident that for a given setting of the installation, the device will mark equally well upon lumber stock of varying thickness over a substantial range.

The type of installation described with respect to Fig. 1 is of course primarily for the purpose of marking lumber stock. Modified installations for operation upon semi or completely fabricated wooden forms, such as boxes, will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Likewise it will be apparent that various types of inking means can be utilized, such as has been employed in the past with devices of this character.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character. described, a mtatable shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a

ring surrounding said hub and having its axis normally concentric to the axis of the shaft, a marking die carried by the outer periphery of the ring, yieldable means acting between the hub and the ring and serving to permit shifting of the ring to a position eccentric to the axis of the shaft when force is applied to the ring laterally of the shaft, radially extending shoulders carried by the hub andadapted to engage cooperating elements carried by the ring, whereby torque can be transmitted through said shoulders in one direction between the hub and the ring, and supplemental resilient means serving to yeldably urge said elements into engagement with said shoulders.

2. 1n apparatus of the character described, a rotatable shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a ring surrounding said hub and having its axis normally concentric to the axis of the shaft, a plurality of radially extending compression springs acting between the hub and said ring, said springs serving to permit shifting ofV the axis of the ring to a position eccentric to the axis of the shaft, upon applying force tothe ring laterally of the shaft, radially extending shoulders carried by the hub, lugs carried by the ring and cooperating with said shoulders, and supplemental compression springs extending substantially tangentially with respect to the hub and acting to yieldably urge said lugs into engagement with said shoulders.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a rotatable shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a ring surrounding said hub and normally having its axis concentric to the axis of the shaft, a marking die carried by the outer periphery of the ring, annular end plates secured to the ring and overlapping the end faces of the hub, a series of springs interconnecting the hub with said ring, said springs serving to permit shifting of the axis of the ring eccentric with respect to the axis of the shaft, by force applied to the ring lateral with respect to the shaft, and means disposed between said end plates fo-r causing the ring and the hub to rotate in unison.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a rotatable shaft, a hub secured to said shaft, a ring surrounding said hub and having its axis normally concentric to the axis of the shaft, a pair of annular end plates secured to the ring, said end plates overlapping the end faces of the hub, a marking die carried by the outer periphery of the ring, a plurality of yieldableelements disposed between the end plates and serving to connect the hub to the ring,a'nd radially extending shoulders formed on the hub and adapted to engage cooperating radially extending shoulders carried by the ring, said shoulders being likewise disposed between saidl end plates.

HOD/[ER E. LEASH.

CIL 

